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THE Tourism Ministry has announced that the 12th Asian Open Water Swimming Championship 2026 will be held on June 13–15 in the waters off the InterContinental Bali Resort in Jimbaran Bay, Bali Province.
According to Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said the championship will feature top athletes from 17 countries. This event also serves as a sports tourism platform in line with the Ministry of Tourism’s flagship program for 2026, namely quality tourism.
“The event will feature the main championship for professional athletes as well as the A. Stream OWS Series, which is open to beginner swimmers, members of the sports community, and the general public,” she said.
Meanwhile Chief Executive of the 12th Asian Open Water Swimming Championship and the A. Stream OWS Series Kiki Taher said the event is expected to have a positive impact on the sports tourism industry.
“We believe that, with the government’s full support, particularly from the Tourism Ministry, this small step will grow into something significant for the advancement of Indonesia’s sports tourism sector,” he said.
Hosting the Asian-level championship is expected to attract more visitors, encourage longer stays, and boost business activity in the accommodation, transportation, and culinary sectors.
Wardhana expressed hope that similar events would also be held in other tourism destinations, including Lombok, Belitung, and Labuan Bajo. Sports tourism is considered to have strong potential to contribute significantly to the growth of Indonesia’s tourism industry.
According to data from UN Tourism, spending on sports tourism accounted for approximately 10 percent of total global tourism expenditure in 2023 and is projected to increase to 17.5 percent between 2023 and 2030. [traveltext.id]
